Four Twenty

About Four Twenty

Nicola originally hails from Crumlin, a working class neighborhood in the heart of Dublin, Ireland. She is currently based out of Chicago, Illinois. Nicola's story is that of the classic starving artist. Originally a keyboard player, Nicola started her career with three chords and an old guitar, busking in Dublin's inner city in the early 90's, belting out tunes by artists such as Tom Petty and Oasis along with more traditional local music like Christy Moore. Looking to change her fortunes, Nicola slung her guitar over her shoulder and moved to the Windy City to chase the American dream. Nicola returned to playing keyboards and studied music at Triton College in River Grove, Illinois. Nicola has played numerous venues around Chicago's north and northwest sides, bringing her music to the blue-collar working class bars and leading crowds in sing-along favorites along with playing her own original music. She also was active in organizing jam sessions in local neighborhood bars. The influence of the Chicago blues can be heard in Nicola's raw vocal styling. Her music ranges from pop ballads such as "Lovely Day" and "Inspiration" to grittier rock like "Left Behind" to the anthemic "Dublin Rose," and the experimental "Googles II." All can be heard on her album "Now and Then."